Automated entry of hidden service-configuration menu for target configurable device selected from plurality of configurable devices in rooms of hospitality establishment

ABSTRACT

A configuration apparatus includes a user interface allowing a user to initiate configuration of at least a target configurable device selected from a plurality of configurable devices. A command module is coupled to the user interface for dynamically generating a sequence of commands required to configure the target configurable device. The sequence of commands includes commands for entering a hidden service-configuration menu of the target configurable device. A communication module is coupled to the command module for transmitting the sequence of commands to the target configurable device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/546,418 filed Jul. 11, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/217,825 filed Aug. 25, 2011, which claims thebenefit of Canadian Patent Application No. 2,715,146 filed Sep. 17,2010. Each of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains generally to device configuration. Morespecifically, the invention relates to configuring devices having hiddenor otherwise protected configuration settings.

Hotel media systems often integrate equipment from different vendorssuch as televisions (TVs) from one vendor, set-top boxes (STBs) fromanother vendor, etc. Different models and versions of equipment from thesame vendor may also be present. Most of this equipment needs to beconfigured before it will integrate with the hotel's media system. Forexample, an installer may need to manually configure each television toutilize a communication protocol supported by an attached STB. Likewise,each STB may need to be configured with information allowing it tocommunicate with a central controller. Without the proper settings, thevarious pieces of equipment may be unable to inter-communicate, or maybe able to inter-communicate partially but errors will occur or otherperformance problems will be encountered. Additionally, devices mayrequire reconfiguration after the initial installation. For example, anupgrade to a STB may require certain settings be changed on an attachedTV in order to maintain compatibility, or power surges and staticdischarge may erase or corrupt settings and require reconfiguration ofsettings. A configuration mechanism in each device needs to allowconfiguration changes to be made by administrative and support staff;however, guests staying in the hotel must be prevented from makingchanges to the configuration settings of devices to avoid “breaking” thesystem.

In a typical consumer electronic device such as a home TV, deviceconfiguration typically takes place in a setup menu accessible from aMENU button on a remote control or front panel of the device. In thissetup menu, a home user can manually set or change all settings of thedevice. Because configuration of media devices in a hotel media systemneeds to be secured from guest tampering, having such a visible andeasily accessible configuration menu is not desirable for equipmentutilized in a hotel system. Some devices may include a function topassword protect the configuration menu; however, passwords are oftenforgotten and hard to manage with different staff members and vendors sothis solution is rarely used in the hospitality industry.

Makers of hospitality-grade electronic devices have solved thestaff-only configuration problem by introducing what are commonly knownas “hidden” service-configuration menus on each piece of equipment.These hidden service-configuration menus, also known as service menus,factory menus, secret setup menus, etc., are not indicated on thedevice's user interface and are only accessible through a predetermined(but otherwise meaningless) sequence of commands entered via the remotecontrol. After a certain seemingly random sequence of button presses ona remote control, an installer or administrator is able to access ahidden setup menu. The hidden menu may include one or more low-levelconfiguration settings such as communication protocols, modes, featureset enabling/disabling, maximum volume settings, authorized channelsets, etc.

For example, entering a hidden service-configuration menu on aparticular TV may involve a sequence of commands such as:

1. Hold down MENU

2. Press 9

3. Press 8

4. Press INFO

5. Press EXIT

As the above command sequence will not normally be known to a guest andis highly unlikely to be encountered in normal operation, guests aregenerally prevented from entering the hidden service-configuration menuon the TV. If a guest reports that a particular device such as the TV ishaving a problem, an administrator goes into the room to use the remotein order to press the special sequence of buttons to enter the hiddenservice-configuration menu and check to see that the configurationsettings are correct. In this way, the predetermined command sequencesoperate similar to passwords and are known only to service personnel andstaff who may need to check configuration settings.

The particular command sequence to enter the service menu for aparticular model of a device is usually published in a service manualfor that device. Because service manuals tend to get lost or misplaced,such information is also commonly available online at manufacturers' websites. Performing an Internet search for the brand, model number, andthe phrase “service menu” often results in the predetermined sequence ofkey presses on the remote required to enter the hiddenservice-configuration menu for any given device. In this way, adetermined guest may still find a way to enter the service menu.

To further increase security and prevent the above problem, somemanufactures offer two remote controls: one for guest usage, and one forstaff usage. Performing the proper sequence of commands on thestaff-remote will enter the hidden service-configuration menu of thedevice, while performing the same sequence on the guest-remote will not.The staff-remote may also require a predetermined command sequence (andpossibly the switching of the remote into a staff-remote mode via aphysical switch on the remote) to enter the hidden service-configurationmenu so that the staff-remote could be utilized by a guest in anemergency (e.g., the guest's remote is broken). If the staff-remote isonly ever going to be used by support staff, the staff-remote may beused as an administrator interface of the device and include a specialbutton to directly enter the hidden service-configuration menu. Thisspecial button is not present on the guest-remote and is not availablevia the user interface of the device. Because only the staff-remote canenter the service menu, the staff-remote is generally only used to setupthe device during installation and is thereafter kept at the front deskor with support personnel in case reconfiguration is required. Theguest-remote is placed in the hotel room for guest usage. In this way,guests are prevented from entering the hidden service-configuration menuusing the guest-remote even if they know the predetermined commandsequence.

As each of the above solutions may be used by different vendors,installers and administrators of large hotels or other hospitalityestablishments having a variety of types and models of media equipmentmust carry with them numerous remotes and remember the sequences ofbutton presses utilized to access the secret service menus for severaldifferent devices. This creates a logistical problem of tracking andmaintaining the important but rarely used set of staff-remotes andkeeping track of which command sequences are required to enter thehidden service-configuration menu for each device in each room. In aworse-case support call, if the required staff-remote or commandsequence is lost or unavailable for some reason (i.e., staff-remote isbroken and/or command sequence is incorrect), administrators may beunable to solve a guest's problem with a particular device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention there is discloseda configuration apparatus. A user interface allows a user to initiateconfiguration of a target configurable device selected from a pluralityof configurable devices of a media system. A command module dynamicallygenerates a sequence of commands to enter a hidden service-configurationmenu of the target configurable device and to change settings within thehidden service-configuration menu in order to configure the targetconfigurable device to operate in a manner compatible with the mediasystem. A communication module transmits the sequence of commands to thetarget configurable device. A user interface of the target configurabledevice does not indicate a way to enter the hidden service-configurationmenu.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention there isdisclosed a method including allowing a user to initiate configurationof a target configurable device selected from a plurality ofconfigurable devices of a media system. The method further includesdynamically generating a sequence of commands for entering a hiddenservice-configuration menu of the target configurable device andchanging settings within the hidden service-configuration menu in orderto configure the target configurable device to operate in a mannercompatible with the media system. The method further includestransmitting the sequence of commands to the target configurable device.A user interface of the target configurable device does not indicate away to enter the hidden service-configuration menu.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention there isdisclosed a method including allowing a user to initiate configurationof a target configurable device selected from a plurality ofconfigurable devices of a media system. The method further includesautomatically determining another device of the media system that iscoupled to the target configurable device, and dynamically generating asequence of commands for entering a hidden service-configuration menu ofthe target configurable device and changing settings within the hiddenservice-configuration menu in order to configure the target configurabledevice to operate in a manner that is compatible with the other device.The method further includes transmitting the sequence of commands to thetarget configurable device. A user interface of the target configurabledevice does not indicate a way to enter the hidden service-configurationmenu. The media system is installed at a hospitality establishment andthe target configurable device is a guest-facing audio/visual (AV)entertainment device.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention there isdisclosed a hospitality media system including a media system controllercoupled to a computer network. The media system controller includes astorage device storing therein a configuration database of informationpertaining to a plurality of configurable devices installed throughout aplurality of guest rooms of a hospitality establishment. The systemfurther includes a portable configuration device including a networkinterface, a transmitter, a user interface, and one or more processors.By the one or more processors of the portable configuration deviceexecuting a software application program, the one or more processors areoperable to access the information of the configuration database via thecomputer network and allow a user of the portable configuration deviceto interact with the user interface in order to select a particularguest room of the hospitality establishment. The particular guest roomis one of the plurality of guest rooms of the hospitality establishment.The one or more processors are further operable to generate a list ofconfiguration devices installed in the particular guest room accordingto the information of the configuration database, and display the liston the user interface of the portable configuration device and allow theuser to interact with the user interface in order to select a targetconfigurable device from the list. The one or more processors arefurther operable to generate a sequence of commands to enter a hiddenservice-configuration menu of the target configurable device accordingto the information of the configuration database, and transmit thesequence of commands to the target configurable device utilizing thetransmitter.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention there isdisclosed a method including accessing information of a configurationdatabase by a portable configuration device via a computer network. Theconfiguration database is stored at a system controller coupled to thecomputer network and the information pertains to a plurality ofconfigurable devices installed throughout a plurality of guest rooms ofa hospitality establishment. The method further includes allowing a userof the portable configuration device to interact with a user interfaceof the portable configuration device in order to select a particularguest room of the hospitality establishment. The particular guest roombeing one of the plurality of guest rooms of the hospitalityestablishment. The method further includes generating a list ofconfiguration devices installed in the particular guest room by theportable configuration device according to the information of theconfiguration database, and displaying on the user interface of theportable configuration device the list and allowing the user to interactwith the user interface in order to select a target configurable devicefrom the list. The method further includes generating a sequence ofcommands to enter a hidden service-configuration menu of the targetconfigurable device according to the information of the configurationdatabase, and transmitting the sequence of commands from the portableconfiguration device to the target configurable device utilizing thetransmitter.

These and other embodiments and advantages of the embodiments of thepresent invention will become apparent from the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,illustrating by way of example principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a hotel media system having devices configured by aportable configuration device according to an exemplary configuration ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart describing steps for configuring guest-facinginteractive devices using the configuration device of FIG. 1 accordingto an exemplary configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary device table that may be included in either orboth the central/local databases of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary command sequence table that may be included ineither or both the central/local databases of FIG. 1 and that operatesin conjunction with the device table shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates a sequence of screens on the user interface of theconfiguration device of FIG. 1 when performing automatic deviceconfiguration in one example of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a sequence of screens on the user interface of theconfiguration device of FIG. 1 when performing automatic deviceconfiguration in another example of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a hotel media system 100 having devices 112, 116, 120, 126,130 configured by a portable configuration device 138 according to anexemplary configuration of the present invention. In this example, theconfiguration device 138 is a portable electronic device carried bystaff that can configure any guest-facing interactive device 112, 116,120, 126, 130 in the hotel's media system 100. The configuration device138 works either in a stand-alone mode or in conjunction with the mediasystem 100 to allow staff to easily configure and test devices in themedia system 100 such as audio/visual entertainment devices 112, 116,120, 126, 130. One aspect of the invention is that the configurationdevice 138 automatically sends the correct sequence of configurationcommands to each device 112, 116, 120, 126, 130 in order to enter itshidden service-configuration menu without staff having to keep track ofmultiple staff-remotes and versions of in-room equipment, and withoutstaff remembering any special key sequences to enter hidden menus on thedifferent types, brands, and model numbers of devices 112, 116, 120,126, 130 in the various rooms 110, 124.

As shown in the exemplary configuration of FIG. 1, the hotel mediasystem 100 includes a media system controller 106 providing mediacontent and control functions to guest-facing interactive devices 112,116, 120, 126, 130 located in a plurality of hotel rooms 124, 110. Inthis example, devices 112, 116, 120, 126, 130 are audio/visual (AV)entertainment devices located in a plurality of hotel rooms 124, 110 andinclude a television 126; set-top boxes (STBs) 130, 116; a Blu-rayoptical disc player 122; and a projector 112. Each of the devices 112,116, 120, 126, 130 is interactively controlled by users during normaloperations using either an infrared remote control device or aradio-signal based remote control device. For example, infraredreceivers 128, 122, 118 are respectively installed in TV 126, Blu-rayplayer 120, and STB 116; and radio receivers 132, 114 are respectivelyinstalled in STB 130 and projector 112. Each device 112, 116, 120, 126,130 is also configurable by staff and includes a hiddenservice-configuration menu for this purpose.

As determined by the device manufacturer, the hiddenservice-configuration menu on each particular device 112, 116, 120, 126,130 may be protected using any one of the commonly utilized techniquesdescribe above in the background section, including entering apredetermined sequence of commands on the remote control device, puttingthe remote control in a staff-only mode to send special commands,utilizing a manufacturer-provided staff-only administrator interfaceenabled remote that sends special commands, entering a password to gainentry to the service menu or specific configuration setting, etc. Thetechniques of the present invention may be adapted to allowconfiguration of a configurable device having any kind of hidden orotherwise protected configuration menu. The hidden service-configurationmenu may also include or correspond to a single hidden configurationsetting. It is not required that all devices 112, 116, 120, 126, 130have the same method of protecting the service menu. In general, theuser interface of each guest-facing interactive device 112, 116, 120,126, 130 will hide the existence of the hidden service-configurationmenu by not indicating any way for users to enter this hidden menu. Forexample, no buttons on the guest remote or menu selections on on-screenmenus will be indicated for entering the hidden menu. In this way,regular users will not know how to enter the hidden service menu andwill therefore be unable to “break” the configuration of the device 112,116, 120, 126, 130 by changing settings available only in the hiddenmenu.

A storage device 102 is coupled to the media system controller 106 andmay include a central device/location configuration database 104 storinginformation relating to each of the configurable devices 112, 116, 120,126, 130 in the rooms 124, 110. In this example, the configurationdevice 138 includes a communication module 140, a command module 148, astorage module 150, and a user interface 154. The storage device 150 mayinclude a local device/location configuration database storinginformation relating to each of the configurable devices 126, 130, 116,112 in the rooms 124, 110. Although, the command module 148 is shown inFIG. 1 as a dedicated hardware module, the command module 148 may alsobe implemented in other configurations as a software program that isexecuted by a general or specific purpose processor 139 and that causesthe processor 139 to operate pursuant to the software program to performthe functions of the command module 148 described below.

In this example, the user interface 154 of the configuration device 138is a touch-screen allowing a user of the configuration device 138 tospecify a hotel room number at input field 156 and then to select one ofthe configurable devices 112, 116, 120, 126, 130 available in that room.Although the user interface 154 is implemented as a touch screen in thisexample, other types of user interfaces 154 may also be utilized. Asshown in FIG. 1, the user has specified the first room 124 as a targetlocation and is thereafter able to select between TV 126 and STB 130,which are the two configurable devices 126, 130 available in the firstroom 124.

In this example, the user has selected the TV 126 as the targetconfigurable device using list 158, and, after selecting the targetconfigurable device 126, the user may initiate configuration of the TV126 by pressing either of buttons 160, 162. The first button 160 causesthe command sequence specific to the exact brand and model number of TV126 to be sent from the communication module 140 to the TV 126 todisplay via the TV's user interface its hidden service-configurationmenu. The second button 162 causes a full configuration command sequenceto be sent to the TV 126 for full configuration (or reconfiguration)according to an installation script. The installation script firstinvolves sending the above-mentioned commands for entering the hiddenservice-configuration menu on the target configurable device 126, andthen sending additional commands for configuring all items within thehidden service-configuration menu as required to allow the particulartarget configurable device to be compatible with the media system 100.

The installation script may be dynamic in that the command module 148automatically takes into account any particular device(s) to which thetarget configurable device needs to be integrated with when determiningthe command sequence to send to the target configurable device. Forexample, the installation script for TV 126 may cause the command module148 to generate a sequence of commands to configure the communicationsprotocol required to allow TV 126 to communicate with the particularbrand and model number of STB 130 because this is the STB that isrequired for controlling TV 126 in the first room 124. The installationscript may be dynamic in other ways such as relating to the particularlocation of the target device. For example, an Nth room 110 may be apenthouse location having access to additional content channels that areautomatically preprogrammed into the STB 116 in that room by theconfiguration device 138 using the install script. The specific sequenceof commands required to enter the hidden service-configuration menu andto perform the install script for each device 112, 116, 120, 126, 130may be unique to each device 126, 130, 116, 112 and be included ineither the local device configuration database 152 or the central deviceconfiguration database 104. The sequence of commands may also includeadditional commands required to enter the hidden service-configurationmenu and configure the target device including navigation commands suchas “UP”, “DOWN”, “LEFT”, “RIGHT” as required for a particular menu;passwords that may be required to enter protected areas, special codesor signals that may only be present on a staff-remote, etc.

The command sequence(s) sent to each of the target configurable devices112, 116, 120, 126, 130 from the configuration device 138 may betransmitted using a variety of methods. FIG. 1 illustrates threeexemplary transmitters being included in the configuration device 138such as WiFi 142, IR blaster 144, and radio transmitter 140; howeverother types of transmitters such as Bluetooth support or ZigBee wirelesssupport may also be added so that any target device using otherprotocols could be automatically configured as well. In oneconfiguration, the communication module 140 transmits the commandsequence determined by the command module 148 to the target deviceaccording to the type of receiver specified for the target device ineither the central or local databases 104, 152.

In the event the communication module 140 does not include the requiredtransmitter type, the sequence of configuration commands may betransmitted to the target configurable device utilizing an externalcontroller such as STB 130 or media system controller 106. For example,assuming the target configurable device is TV 126 but the IR blaster 144is not present in the configuration device 138, the communication module140 may transmit the command sequence to STB 130 using the radiotransmitter 134, and STB 130 may pass the commands directly to TV 126using communication link 127 or utilize in-room IR blaster 134 totransmit the commands to TV 126 using infrared signals when link 127 isnot available. In this way, a configuration device 138 without an IRblaster 144 may still perform the initial installation (orconfiguration, reconfiguration, debug, testing, etc) of TV 126.

This same functionality of transmitting commands utilizing an externalcontroller may be useful when the configuration device 138 is out ofrange of the target configurable device such as when a supporttechnician in a hotel is unable to enter a guest's room because theguest has placed a do-not-disturb sign on the door. Taking the sameexample of the target configurable device being TV 126, while theconfiguration device 138 is not inside the guest's room 124, thecommunication module 140 may transmit the command sequence from WiFi 142to the media system controller 106 via AP 136 and network 108. The mediasystem controller 106 then passes the command sequence to STB 134, whicheither passes the commands to TV 126 directly using link 127 or thein-room IR blaster 134. In this way, an out-of-range configurationdevice 138 may still perform the initial installation (or configuration,reconfiguration, debug, testing, etc) of TV 126.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart describing steps for configuring guest-facinginteractive devices 112, 116, 120, 126, 130 according to an exemplaryconfiguration of the present invention. The steps of the flowchart ofFIG. 2 are not restricted to the exact order shown, and, in otherconfigurations, shown steps may be omitted or other intermediate stepsadded. In this example, the configuration device 138 performs thefollowing steps:

Step 200: A target configurable device is determined by theconfiguration device 138. As shown in FIG. 1, this could be donemanually by a user specifying a room number at field 156 of the userinterface 154 and then selecting one or more of the target devices 112,116, 120, 126, 130 available at that location. In another example, theuser may select a particular device type, brand, and model number.Alternatively, as will be explained later in this disclosure, thedetermination of the target device may be done automatically by theconfiguration device 138 according to configuration state or otherinformation located in either the central or local databases 104, 152.

Step 202: Once the target device is selected, the configuration device138 optionally guides the user to the target device (if required such aswhen the target device is automatically determined) and then allows theuser to initiate configuration of the target device when ready. Forexample, the initiation could be performed by a user pressing one ofbuttons 160, 162 on the user interface 154 of the configuration device138. If using infrared signals to transmit the command sequence to thetarget configurable device, before initiating the configuration, theuser may need to be guided by the configuration device 138 to orientatethe configuration device 138 such that the IR blaster 144 is directed atthe IR receiver of the target device or an external controller.Likewise, if using radio signals (including WiFi) the portableconfiguration device may need to guide the user to locate theconfiguration device 138 within communication range of the target deviceor an external controller.

Step 204: The command module 148 automatically determines a sequence ofcommands required to configure the target device. The sequence ofcommands at least includes commands required to enter a hiddenservice-configuration menu on the target device (i.e., when the userpresses button 160 in FIG. 1), and may further include additionalcommands to automatically configure some or all of the of theconfiguration options presented in the hidden service-configuration menu(i.e., when the user presses button 162 in FIG. 1). A sequence ofcommands required to configure each configurable device 112, 116, 120,126, 130 may be stored in the central or local databases 104, 152. Thesequence of commands may be dynamic and include variables and conditionsso that it may be automatically adjusted by the command module 148 inorder to take into account factors that may change such as the locationof the target device and which other equipment is operating inconjunction with the target device.

Step 206: The communication module 140 transmits the sequence ofcommands determined by the command module 148 during step 204 to thetarget device utilizing the one of the interface modules 142, 144, 146.For example, if the target device has an IR receiver 128, 122, 118 forreceiving commands, the communication module 140 may transmit thesequence of commands utilizing the IR transmitter 144. Likewise, if thetarget device has a radio receiver 132, 114 for receiving commands, thecommunication module 140 may transmit the sequence of commands utilizingthe radio transmitter 140. In another configuration, the communicationmodule 140 may transmit the commands to the target configurable devicevia an external controller such as the media system controller 106 orone of the in-room STBs 130, 116. For example, assuming that theconfiguration device 138 does not include the IR transmitter 144 butneeds to configure the TV 126, the communication module 140 may utilizethe WiFi 142 module to communicate to the media system control 106 viahotel network 108. The media system controller 106 then forwards thecommand sequence to STB 130, which utilizes the in-room IR blaster 134to transmit the command sequence to TV 126. In another example, thecommunication module 140 may utilize the radio transmitter 140 totransmit the command sequence to STB 130, which utilizes the in-room IRblaster 134 to transmit the command sequence to TV 126. The exactinterface module 142, 144, 146 utilized to transmit the commands may bespecified in either of the databases 104, 152, or may be manuallyselected by the user in real-time.

Step 208: Either an automatic or manual detection of whether or not thetarget configurable device was successfully configured may be performedby the command module 148 at this step. Automatic detection may beperformed directly by the command module 148 communicating with thetarget device, if possible. However, usually this will not be possiblebecause there may only be 1-way communication from the communicationmodule 140 to the target device (e.g., infrared signals sent to targetdevice only). In this situation, automatic configuration may beperformed by communication with a controller such as the media systemcontroller 106 or the STBs 130, 116.

For example, suppose the target device is STB 130 being configured bymedia system 100 vendor staff during initial hotel installation.Configuring the STB 130 may involve setting an IP address or host namefor the STB 130 to use on the network 108 and/or setting the STB 130 touse a control protocol compatible with TV 126. Before the STB 130 issuccessfully configured, the media system controller 106 will be unableto communicate with STB 130, and after STB 130 is successfullyconfigured, the media system controller 106 will be able to communicatewith and control the STB 130. In this way, the media system controller106 is capable of confirming the successful configuration of STB 130. Totake advantage of this, the command module 148 may communicate with themedia system controller 106 via the WiFi module 142 and the network 108in order to confirm that STB 130 was successfully configured. In anotherconfiguration, the media system controller 106 may automatically checkfor successful configuration of STB 130 and update the central devicedatabase 104 to indicate the new configuration status of STB 130. Thecommand module 148 thereafter confirms STB 130 was successfullyconfigured by checking the central database 104.

In yet another configuration, manual detection may be performed byquerying the user. This may be useful in the event that automaticdetection is not possible. For example, when configuring a targetconfigurable device that is not connected to any controller 106, 130,116, it may be required to query a user of the configuration device 138to manually confirm that the target device was successfully configured.For example, after setting up TV 126, the TV 126 should be able todisplay television content. The configuration device 138 may thereforequery the user as to whether or not the user can watch television on TV126 in order to determine whether or not TV 126 was successfullyconfigured. If the target device was successfully configured, controlproceeds to step 212; otherwise, control proceeds to step 210.

Step 210: In the event that the target device was not successfullyconfigured after a predetermined number of retries, an error message maybe displayed with troubleshooting suggestions. When the user is ready toretry configuration of the target device, control returns to step 202.

Step 212: After confirming that the target device was successfullyconfigured, if not already done by another controller (such as duringstep 208), the command module 148 may update the configuration state ofthe target device in the local and/or central device and room databases104, 152. Control then returns to step 200 to choose a next targetconfigurable device.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary device table 300 that may be included ineither the central device database 104 and/or the local device database152. For each location in the hotel, the available entertainmentdevices, their model numbers, and their configuration statuses areincluded in table 300. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary command sequence table400 that may be included in either or both of the databases 104, 152 andthat operates in conjunction with the device table 300 shown in FIG. 3.The command sequence table 400 stores the interface type, code set,hidden service-configuration menu command sequence, and additionalinstall script for each model number of the various configurable devices112, 116, 120, 126, 130 in the media system 100. It should also be notedthat the database structure shown in exemplary tables 300, 400 is notmeant to be limiting. For example, the structure illustrated herein waschosen to reduce redundant information stored in the databases 104, 152;however, it is not necessary to separate each database 104, 152 into twotables. In other configurations, one or more tables may be utilizedincluding the same, fewer, or more fields than illustrated hereinaccording to other design requirements.

In a stand-alone configuration, only the configuration device 138 storesthe local configuration database 152 and there is no centralconfiguration database 104. This configuration may be useful for asingle, fixed-usage configuration device 138 that operates on its ownwithout interaction with other configuration devices 138 or a centralcontroller 106. The local database 152 may be setup and maintained by avendor of the media system 100 or directly by the user of theconfiguration device 138, for example.

In another example, the central media system controller 106 may store amaster copy of the database 104, which is downloaded to the storagedevice 150 of the configuration device 138 prior to use. Thisconfiguration may be useful when the portable configuration device alsoserves other purposes and may not have the most up-to-date version ofthe central database 104 due to being utilized for other purposes for aperiod of time. For example, a general purpose portable computer, mobilephone, or other electronic device may operate in one mode as theconfiguration device 138. Upon switching to this mode, the configurationdevice 138 may download the up-to-date central configuration database104 and cache a local copy 152. The download may take place over network108 using WiFi 142 or another type of available network module such as alocal area network (LAN) Ethernet technology or wide area network (WAN)3G technology.

A benefit of this configuration is that any portable device may becomethe configuration device 138 by simply executing an application programto perform the steps of FIG. 2 and caching in its storage device 150 alocal copy of the central device database 104.

Yet another benefit of this configuration is that a same configurationdevice 138 may be utilized at different hospitality properties and withnew models of entertainment devices by simply downloading and caching inits storage device 150 a new local copy 152 of the central configurationdatabase 104. If the configuration status of any device changes in thelocal device database 152, the changes may be sent back to the mediasystem controller 106 for permanent storage in the central devicedatabase 104.

In another configuration, only the central device database 104 may beutilized with no local device database 152. In this example, the commandmodule 148 in the configuration device 138 accesses the central database104 remotely via the WiFi module 142, AP 136, and network 108. Thisconfiguration may be useful when several portable configuration devices138 are utilized simultaneously. During installation of a large mediasystem 100 having thousands of pieces of equipment that need to beconfigured, several installers may be configuring equipment at the sametime. Because table 300 indicates which devices have been configuredalready and which have not, the configuration device 138 mayautomatically guide the installers to non-configured equipment. Eachtime a device at a particular location is configured, the “configured”column of table 300 for that device in the central database 104 may beupdated to reflect the configured status. Because all the configurationdevices 138 utilize the same central database 104, duplicateconfiguration of an already-configured device is avoided. Combinationsof the above examples may also be utilized.

FIG. 5 illustrates a sequence of screens 500 on the user interface 154of the configuration device 138 when performing automatic deviceconfiguration in one example of the present invention. Automatic deviceconfiguration may be utilized during installation, upgrade, orreconfiguration of the media system 100, for example. A first screen 502indicates the number of locations (e.g., hotel rooms in this example)having at least one non-configured device and the total number ofdevices that need to be configured according to the information storedin table 300. Two buttons 520, 522 are presented to the user to selectbetween a “Grid” mode and a “Guided” mode. After the user presses thegrid button 520, a second screen 504 is presented showing a grid ofhotel rooms that have at least one device that needs to be configured.An arrow 530 allows the user to scroll down in the list if there is notenough space on the user interface 154 to display all rooms.

In this example, the user selects room 207 and is presented with a thirdscreen 506 showing all the devices that need to be configured in room207. The user initiates configuration of the STB in room 207 on screen506, and the command module 148 automatically determines the sequence ofcommands required to configure the STB in room 207 by first checkingtable 300 to determine the STB module number and then checking table 400to determine the hidden service-configuration menu command sequence andthe additional install setup script for the STB module number. Forexample, if table 300 indicated a STB having module number “4” in room207, the command module 148 determines the hidden service-configurationmenu command sequence as “MENU, 8, 2, Up, Up, 2, 3, 5”. Next the commandmodule 148 determines the sequence of commands to perform the additionalinstall script specified for the target STB in table 400, including:

-   -   1. Set room number    -   2. Set controller IP address    -   3. Set peripheral communication type(s)

The install script is dynamically converted to a sequence of commandsaccording to the particular room number of the target STB (i.e., room207), the media system controller's 106 IP address, and thecommunication types required to be configured in the target STB in orderto allow the STB to control the other peripheral devices in the roomsuch as the list of devices shown in screen 506. In this example, theroom number, controller IP address, and peripheral communication typesare script variables that are adjusted by the command module, forexample, according to the details of other in-room equipment asspecified in tables 300 and 400. Another table or fields (not shown) maybe stored in the database(s) 104, 152 to specify any additionalinformation that is required to generate the sequence of commands forthe install script as required in particular implementations. Forexample, the command sequence may involve additional commands fornavigating through the hidden service-configuration menu on the targetdevice, making changes as appropriate, and saving the configuration.Once the entire command sequence is determined by the command module148, the commands are then sent to the target STB by the communicationmodule 140 via the IR blaster 144 because this is the interfacespecified for the target STB in table 400. Additionally, the code setspecified in table 400 allows the IR blaster 144 to know what infraredcodes are required by the target STB to represent the various commandssuch as “MENU”, “8”, “2”, “Up”, “Down”, “Save”, etc.

After transmitting the sequence of commands to the target STB, thecommand module 148 then communicates with the media system controller106 via AP 136 and network 108 in order to determine if the commandsequence was successful in configuring the target STB. Assuming that themedia system controller 106 can now communicate with the target STB andcheck all the configuration settings as correct, the configurationstatus of the target STB is updated to “configured’ in table 300 andscreen 508 is displayed indicating success to the user and updating theoverall remaining rooms and devices still requiring configuration.

The user may continue to configure other devices in the same room bypressing button 540 or may select a different room by pressing button542. It should also be noted that at screen 506 the user may also selectmultiple devices to be configured at the same time. In thisconfiguration, the command module 148 repeats the various above stepsfor each of the selected devices and the fourth screen 508 may indicatewhich devices were configured successfully and which need to be retried.Instructions such as pointing the IR blaster 144 in the direction of thetarget devices that were not configured may be provided.

FIG. 6 illustrates a sequence of screens 600 on the user interface 154of the configuration device 138 when performing automatic deviceconfiguration in another example of the present invention. The firstscreen 600 may be the result of a user pressing the “Guided” button 522of FIG. 5 and includes instructions for a user to go to a particularlocation and then to point the configuration device 138 (referred to asa “remote” in screen 602) at a particular target device.

In this example, the location is “Room 101” and the target device is theSTB in Room 101. When ready, the user initiates configuration of the STBin Room 101 by pressing the OK button 610. The command module 148 thendetermines the sequence of commands required to configure the target STBand confirm success using a process similar to that described for FIG.5. Again, the sequence of commands includes the commands required toenter the hidden service-configuration menu and to navigate throughoutthe hidden menu and make the required configuration changes specific forthe target STB.

Assuming success is confirmed (via the media system controller 106 asdescribed above, for example), screen 604 is displayed guiding the userto point the configuration device 138 at the next target device beingthe TV. The user initiates configuration of the TV by pressing button612 and the command module determines the sequence of commands requiredto configure the target TV using a process similar to that described forFIG. 5.

In this example it is assumed that the media system controller 106 andthe STB in Room 101 are unable to automatically determine whether theconfiguration of the target TV was successful so a manual confirmationis required from the user in screen 606. The manual confirmation may befacilitated by having a last step of the install script being to set theTV to display a particular channel and then having the user confirm theycan see the content displayed on that channel (e.g., an interactiveprogram guide of content available on the TV). If the user is unable toview the specified channel, the user may press button 616 in order toretry the configuration. Alternatively, the user may press button 614 toconfirm success and screen 608 is shown guiding the user to a nexttarget device in a next room because all devices in the current room arenow configured. Again, screen 604 may be omitted if the both the STB andthe TV are configured at the same time.

Automatic installation as illustrated in the examples of FIG. 5 and FIG.6 allows installers and support staff to quickly and easily configuredevices in the hotel media system 100 without having to carry manyremotes or remember any configuration details such as secret commandsequences to enter hidden service-configuration menus on differentdevices. Additionally, if the installer skips a room or misses a devicefor some reason, the configuration device 138 working with either (orboth) of the databases 152, 104 keeps track of the devices/rooms so thatthey could be configured later.

In another configuration, a map or list of the various rooms in thehotel is shown on the configuration device 138 with rooms requiringconfiguration shown in red and rooms that are fully configured shown ingreen, for example. The installer takes the configuration device 138 toany room in red and then selects that room (e.g., on a touch screen154). The configuration device 138 then sends the appropriate IR/radiocommands to configure all the devices in the room. Once confirming thatall configurations were successful, the room becomes green on themap/list. If multiple configuration devices 138 are being used byseveral installers at the same time, the map or list of rooms needing tobe configured may be updated in real time via AP 138 and network 108 inthe hotel so all installers have an accurate picture of which roomsstill need to be configured.

Many other implementations of guided and automatic device configurationare also possible with a goal that the configuration device(s) 138handle most (all) of the technical configuration aspects of thecomplicated remote key presses to access hidden service-configurationmenus and make configuration changes according to what settings need tobe configured, and to keep track of the statuses of all devices in allrooms. The sequence of commands and various configuration tasks may allbe pre-programmed in advance or dynamically determined on the flyaccording to information in the databases 104, 152, and the installerssimply need to take their configuration device 138 to one or more roomsfor automatic configuration. This greatly reduces the burden on thehuman installer and therefore installations are completed much fasterwith better quality. A similar benefit also applies to reconfigurations,debugging, upgrades, testing, support calls, etc.

In an exemplary configuration of the invention, a universalconfiguration application executed on a mobile or portable device 138causes a general-purpose processor 139 of the portable device 138 to actas the command module 148. In this way, any mobile or portable device138 can not only replace all of the remotes required to configuredevices, but can also automatically perform the special key-sequencesthat are required to access the hidden service-configuration menus andprogram each entertainment device 112, 116, 120, 126, 130. As each guestroom may include different devices such as different TVs that requiredifferent key-sequences to enter the configuration menu, this providessupport staff an efficient and reliable way of setting up and checkingconfiguration setting of equipment. Additionally, support staff does notneed to be burdened with remembering all of the specific access codesand hidden menus for each device.

Another aspect of the invention involves performance testing. In theevent of a trouble report, for example that a TV is slow to changechannels, an administrator may want to perform performance testing onthe device such as cycling through all the channels to see if one takeslonger than the others, for example. A button on the configurationdevice 138 may be pressed to start channel cycling and then theconfiguration device 138 sends the channel change commands everypredetermined number of milliseconds. The delay could be configurablefor different tests, but because the channel change interval is fixedduring a single test, the administrator may easily see if some channelstake longer than others. An in-room STB or other external controller mayalso monitor the time between changes to get more accurate measurements.A report may then be displayed on the screen showing which channels havedelayed changes. One benefit of having the configuration device 138perform the channel changes automatically rather than a human pressingthe channel up button repeatedly is that the human element is removed sothe testing is more accurate. Especially when testing hundreds (orthousands) of channels, a human operator may get tired and press thebutton with inconsistent timings and may not notice when some channelstake longer to change then others. Other buttons on the UI 154 may beincluded for other tests or to reset the target device back to factorydefaults.

Another aspect of the invention involves remote operation. Theconfiguration device 138 may configure or operate the devices in theroom even when staff is not in the room. One benefit of thisconfiguration is that an administrator may not be able to enter the roomin order to change settings because, for example, the room may beoccupied by a guest at the time a configuration change needs to be made.When installers don't have physical entry access to a room an in-roomIR-blaster 134 may be utilized. In-room IR blaster 134 is installed inthe hotel room 124, and configuration device 138 may send commandsthrough the hotel network 108 to the in-room IR blaster 134 to performany of the above configuration operations. Intermediate devices such asthe media system controller 106 and/or the STB 130 may pass the commandsalong to the appropriate in-room IR blaster 134.

This control method is particularly suitable for mobile devices such asthe iPhone® by Apple Incorporated. The current version of the iPhonedoes not have IR blasting capability built-in so it cannot send IRremote codes directly. Instead, a mobile application having the abovedescribed functionality such as that shown in FIG. 2 may be installedand communicate the command sequence from the iPhone to the in-room IRblaster 134 using any available communication path such as wireless AP136 or 3G. The application may send the desired operation (i.e. enterhidden menu and then program TV channel lineup) to the media systemcontroller 106, which ensures the application is authenticated and thentranslate the operation to the proper command sequence based on thedevices involved (ie. STB with a particular brand of TV) and transmit itto the target device. Other mobile devices capable of running a customapplication could also be used as the configuration device 138,including laptops, notebooks, tablet computers, mobile phones, personaldigital assistants (PDAs), etc. Because any electronic device with atleast one type of communication interface may be utilized as aconfiguration device 138 according to the present invention, the problemof a broken or missing staff-remotes preventing hotel staff fromassisting a guest is also solved.

The ability to configure a STB or TV device remotely raises potentialcustomer service concerns. For example if a guest room were occupiedwith the guest currently using the media system and suddenly the STB orTV started automatically configuring itself it will raise customerservice complaints. This type of issue can be overcome by ensuringdisruptive operations are only authorized for the proper user types andcan only be performed when the room is in a vacant/checked-out state orthe device of the media system 100 in that room are not in use, forexample. In other words, the configuration device 138 may allow a userto initiate configuration of a target device only when the user isauthorized and when the target device is not in use by a guest. Userauthentication may also play a role in determining what operations areavailable. For example, an installer may be able to change televisionconfiguration settings using a single button function on a mobileconfiguration device 138, but a regular hotel staff member would only beable to cause diagnostic information such as version numbers foundwithin the hidden service-configuration menu to be displayed on thetelevision and would not be able to change the settings. The userauthentication information may be stored within the storage device 150of the configuration device 138 or remotely such as in the centraldatabase 104 connected to the media system controller 106.

As mentioned, the configuration device 138 may target multiple devicesat once, for example “all TVs of a certain make/model”, “all TVs on the9th floor”, “all devices in the penthouse”, etc. This helps speed up theinstallation process. Either in-room IR-blaster 134, radio signals, oranother remote control method such as passing commands via media systemcontroller 106 may be used. The configuration device 138 may be utilizedby an installer when they first install the media system 100. In anotherconfiguration, the configuration device 138 may be used by a hotel staffmember as part of a troubleshooting process in response to a guestcomplaint.

In summary, a configuration apparatus includes a user interface allowinga user to initiate configuration of at least a target configurabledevice selected from a plurality of configurable devices. A commandmodule is coupled to the user interface for dynamically generating asequence of commands required to configure the target configurabledevice. The sequence of commands includes commands for entering a hiddenservice-configuration menu of the target configurable device. Acommunication module is coupled to the command module for transmittingthe sequence of commands to the target configurable device. The commandsmay be transmitted to the target device via an external controller, andthe controller may also confirm whether or not the configuration wassuccessful. A database may be centrally or locally stored mapping eachof the configurable devices to a specific script to generate thesequence of commands and storing the configuration status of eachconfigurable device.

The configuration apparatus allows a user to initiate automaticconfiguration of a target device selected from a plurality of targetdevices. In response to the user initiating configuration of theselected target device, the configuration apparatus dynamicallygenerates a sequence of commands required to configure the target deviceand transmits this newly generated sequence of commands to the targetdevice. By the configuration apparatus dynamically generating thesequence of commands required to configure the target device, the userbeneficially does not need to be aware of what commands need to be sentto configure the target device, and the user does not need to pre-defineor otherwise save the exact sequence of commands as a macro before theconfiguration apparatus can be used to configure the target device.Additionally, as the sequence of commands includes the correct commandsfor entering a hidden service-configuration of the target device, usersare therefore not required to keep track of or remember different hiddenmenu access requirements for all the different devices that may need tobe configured.

The present invention is particularly beneficial in a hotel environmentwhere equipment such as a newly installed flat screen television orset-top box (STB) typically needs to be configured before it will workin the hotel according to the room number and/or according to otherequipment installed in the room or elsewhere in the hotel's mediasystem. Users such as hotel front desk staff and installers may simplycarry the configuration apparatus with them throughout the hotel and mayinitiate and successfully configure any target device in the hotelwithout knowing any technical details or requirements of the targetdevice and without having to remember how to enter the hiddenservice-configuration menu for the different target device types thatmay be used in different rooms.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a preferredembodiment, it should be understood that various modifications,additions and alterations may be made to the invention by one skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims. For example, in another configuration,the command module dynamically generates the sequence of commandsrequired to configure the target configurable device before the user hasinitiated configuration of the target configurable device such as inresponse to a change made to equipment in the hotel. For example, at thetime an installer installs a new STB in a certain room, the commandmodule may dynamically generate a sequence of commands required toreconfigure the in-room TV and other configurable devices in the room towork with the new STB. In another example, although the steps of FIG. 2are shown to be performed by the portable configuration device 138illustrated in FIG. 1, in actual implementations, the components in themedia system 100 such as the media system controller 106 may performsome of the steps of FIG. 2. For example, the media system controller106 may determine the sequence of commands required to enter the hiddenservice-configuration menu and then pass the sequence of commands to theportable configuration device 138 for transmission. In another example,the portable configuration device 138 shown in FIG. 1 may simply act asthe user interface 156 and all the other steps described may beperformed by the media system controller 106; STBs 130, 116; and othercomponents in the media system 100 such as in-room IR blaster 134.

Although the description of the invention has been described as beingutilized at a hotel, the present invention is equally applicable toother hospitality related locations and services such as hotels, motels,resorts, hospitals, apartment/townhouse complexes, restaurants,retirement centres, cruise ships, busses, airlines, shopping centres,passenger trains, etc. Similarly, the present invention is also usefuloutside the hospitality industry. As such, the words “guest” and “staff”in the description are meant to help the reader with an understanding ofthe invention only. In actual practice, their meanings should beexpanded to encompass other users and situations, including where staffand guest both refer to the same person. For example, an individual usermay find the configuration device 138 and method of the presentinvention useful so that the individual user does not need to keep trackof the commands required to enter hidden service-configuration menus foreach of their home entertainment devices. Additionally, the variousseparate configurations, elements, features, and modules of theinvention described above may be integrated or combined into singleunits. For example, a high definition television or projector mayincorporate the functions of a STB. Similarly, functions of single unitsmay be separated into multiple units. Unless otherwise specified,features described may be implemented in hardware or software accordingto different design requirements. Additionally, all combinations andpermutations of the above described features and configurations may beutilized in conjunction with the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hospitality media system comprising: a mediasystem controller coupled to a computer network, the media systemcontroller including a storage device storing therein a configurationdatabase of information pertaining to a plurality of configurabledevices installed throughout a plurality of guest rooms of a hospitalityestablishment; and a portable configuration device including a networkinterface, a transmitter, a user interface, and one or more processors;wherein, by the one or more processors of the portable configurationdevice executing a software application program, the one or moreprocessors are operable to: access the information of the configurationdatabase via the computer network; allow a user of the portableconfiguration device to interact with the user interface in order toselect a particular guest room of the hospitality establishment, theparticular guest room being one of the plurality of guest rooms of thehospitality establishment; generate a list of configuration devicesinstalled in the particular guest room according to the information ofthe configuration database; display the list on the user interface ofthe portable configuration device and allow the user to interact withthe user interface in order to select a target configurable device fromthe list; generate a sequence of commands to enter a hiddenservice-configuration menu of the target configurable device accordingto the information of the configuration database; and transmit thesequence of commands to the target configurable device utilizing thetransmitter.
 2. The hospitality media system of claim 1, wherein the oneor more processors are operable to display on the user interface a gridof at least some of the guest rooms at the hospitality establishment andthen allow the user to select the particular guest room by selecting oneof the guest rooms displayed on the grid.
 3. The hospitality mediasystem of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are operable toallow the user to select the particular guest room by allowing the userto specify a room number utilizing an input field available on the userinterface.
 4. The hospitality media system of claim 1, wherein: thenetwork interface includes a wireless network transceiver for couplingthe portable configuration device to a wireless access point of thecomputer network; and the one or more processors of the portableconfiguration device access the information of the configurationdatabase via the wireless network transceiver.
 5. The hospitality mediasystem of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors of the portableconfiguration device access the information of the configurationdatabase via the computer network in order to cache a local copy of theconfiguration database in a storage device of the portable configurationdevice.
 6. The hospitality media system of claim 5, wherein the one ormore processors of the portable configuration device are operable togenerate the list of which of the configuration devices are installed inthe particular room and generate the sequence of commands to enter thehidden service-configuration menu of the target configurable device byaccessing the information of the configuration database as stored in thelocal copy.
 7. The hospitality media system of claim 1, wherein: thestorage device stores types of the configuration devices installed ineach of the guest rooms along with a respective sequence of commandsrequired for entering the hidden service-configuration menu for each ofthe types; and the one or more processors of the portable configurationdevice are operable to lookup the sequence of commands to enter thehidden service-configuration menu of the target configurable device asstored in the information of the configuration database according to thetype of the target configurable device.
 8. The hospitality media systemof claim 1, wherein the configuration database further stores anindication of whether each of the configurable devices needs to beconfigured and the user interface indicates to the user which of theconfiguration devices installed in the particular room selected by theuser need to be configured.
 9. The hospitality media system of claim 1,wherein the one or more processors of the portable configuration deviceare operable to generate the sequence of commands further to perform aninstallation script for the target configurable device after enteringthe hidden service-configuration menu of the target configurable device.10. The hospitality media system of claim 1, further comprising aplurality of portable configuration devices thereby allowing a pluralityof users to configure separate configurable devices in different guestrooms of the hospitality establishment at a same time.
 11. Thehospitality media system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is aninfrared transmitter.
 12. A method comprising: accessing information ofa configuration database by a portable configuration device via acomputer network, wherein the configuration database is stored at asystem controller coupled to the computer network and the informationpertains to a plurality of configurable devices installed throughout aplurality of guest rooms of a hospitality establishment; allowing a userof the portable configuration device to interact with a user interfaceof the portable configuration device in order to select a particularguest room of the hospitality establishment, the particular guest roombeing one of the plurality of guest rooms of the hospitalityestablishment; generating a list of configuration devices installed inthe particular guest room by the portable configuration device accordingto the information of the configuration database; displaying on the userinterface of the portable configuration device the list and allowing theuser to interact with the user interface in order to select a targetconfigurable device from the list; generating a sequence of commands toenter a hidden service-configuration menu of the target configurabledevice according to the information of the configuration database; andtransmitting the sequence of commands from the portable configurationdevice to the target configurable device utilizing the transmitter. 13.The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying by the userinterface a grid of at least some of the guest rooms at the hospitalityestablishment and then allowing the user to select the particular guestroom by selecting one of the guest rooms displayed on the grid.
 14. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising allowing the user to select theparticular guest room by allowing the user to specify a room numberutilizing an input field available on the user interface.
 15. The methodof claim 12, wherein: the portable configuration device includes awireless network transceiver for coupling the portable configurationdevice to a wireless access point of the computer network; and themethod further comprises: accessing the information of the configurationdatabase by the portable configuration device utilizing the wirelessnetwork transceiver.
 16. The method of claim 12, further comprisingaccessing the information of the configuration database via the computernetwork by first caching a local copy of the configuration database in astorage device of the portable configuration device and then accessingthe local copy.
 17. The method of claim 12, further comprising: storingtypes of the configuration devices installed in each of the guest roomsalong with a respective sequence of commands required for entering thehidden service-configuration menu for each of the types; and looking upthe sequence of commands to enter the hidden service-configuration menuof the target configurable device as stored in the information of theconfiguration database according to the type of the target configurabledevice.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the configuration databasefurther stores an indication of whether each of the configurable devicesneeds to be configured and the method further comprises indicating tothe user which of the configuration devices installed in the particularroom selected by the user need to be configured.
 19. The method of claim12, further comprising generating the sequence of commands further toperform an installation script for the target configurable device afterentering the hidden service-configuration menu of the targetconfigurable device.
 20. A non-transitory processor-readable mediumcomprising executable instructions that when executed by one or moreprocessors cause the one or more processors to perform the method ofclaim 12.